When Vimes thinks back about his childhood he remembers that everybody in his street had many children; Is it ever mentioned in any of the books how many brothers and sisters he has and what became of them?

Nullus Anxietas wrote:When Vimes thinks back about his childhood he remembers that everybody in his street had many children; Is it ever mentioned in any of the books how many brothers and sisters he has and what became of them?

I don't recall any mention of siblings. We know (from the Discworld Companion) that his father was named Thomas and his grandfather was Gwillaim and that membership in the Watch seemed to be a family tradition. But that's about all we know of his early life.

You never really find out how many siblings he has, but I think you can infer that he must have some based on some of the little bits of narration you get in the books from time to time, particularly on the subject of the frenzied nature of mealtimes, when everyone basically had to eat as fast as possible to make sure they got their fair of the food.

Just as it's interesting how many DW men are bachelors, it's also interesting how many of them don't seem to have siblings (or those we know about). Vetinari, Moist, Nobby, Brutha, Mort, Colon, Detritus, and Carrot have little tidbits of family background thrown out there, but there's no conclusive evidence that any of them have siblings. Whereas, most of the key female characters--Granny Weatherwax, Tiffany, Esk, Angua, Cheery--not only have siblings, but one or more of them plays an important role in defining who they are.

It is surprising that even after Vimes became rich and important none of his siblings showed up. Maybe they didn't survive? They'd be older than him or at most only slightly younger if he has no memories of his father.

Aren't we told Vetinari has no relatives aside from his aunt? So if he had siblings they are probably dead by now.

cabbagehead wrote:It is surprising that even after Vimes became rich and important none of his siblings showed up. Maybe they didn't survive? They'd be older than him or at most only slightly younger if he has no memories of his father.

Aren't we told Vetinari has no relatives aside from his aunt? So if he had siblings they are probably dead by now.

Susan is definitely an only child. Adorra had a brother.

SPOILERS AHEAD

I think has more to do with Pterry's narrative priorities than anything else. He generally only provides familial backstories when they're needed to shape the character's 'current' narrative. Characters don't have 'identified' siblings (or relatives even) unless these relatives play some role in the story (even in death). It's not important for Vimes' narrative arc to have siblings or even living parents. (Think about Night Watch: Wouldn't you have thought that one thing Sam Vimes/Keel would have wanted to do is see his 'old mum' (young Sam's mum), even if only in disguise? It never even occurs to him.

It's not critical for Vetinari to have relatives other than his aunt. Whereas, for characters like Cheery, Adorabella, Wm. De Worde, Angua and Granny Weatherwax, the lives (and deaths) of siblings play a key role in shaping who they are 'today.'

WARNING: NON-DW SPOILERS A COMIN'.

And it's not restricted to the DW books. Look at Nation. We never get a real backstory for Mau's family life before he loses them. No real discussion of his parents or any siblings. Whereas, Daphne's entire life has been shaped by family. It's interesting how Pterry deals with family loss in the book, in both vague and specific ways.

It's not important for Vimes' narrative arc to have siblings or even living parents. (Think about Night Watch: Wouldn't you have thought that one thing Sam Vimes/Keel would have wanted to do is see his 'old mum' (young Sam's mum), even if only in disguise? It never even occurs to him.

This isn't accurate. The younger version of Sam invites 'Keel' over to dinner with his mom and Vimes as Keel declines because in his reality his mother died a few years earlier and he thought seeing his mother alive and younger would be too painful.

It's not important for Vimes' narrative arc to have siblings or even living parents. (Think about Night Watch: Wouldn't you have thought that one thing Sam Vimes/Keel would have wanted to do is see his 'old mum' (young Sam's mum), even if only in disguise? It never even occurs to him.

This isn't accurate. The younger version of Sam invites 'Keel' over to dinner with his mom and Vimes as Keel declines because in his reality his mother died a few years earlier and he thought seeing his mother alive and younger would be too painful.